Published: Friday, April 22, 2011 at 3:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 22, 2011 at 3:27 p.m.

NEWTOWN - Each morning, in the same public housing project where two British tourists were killed last Saturday, teachers load young children into a red stroller and take them on an hourlong walk.

When residents of The Courts see the stroller coming down the sidewalk, many of them stop teacher Elibel Ramirez to chat. They pat the children on the head, call them by name and often pick up the littlest ones, the babies, for a hug.

"We cross all of these streets, we walk right through this neighborhood," says Ramirez. "I don't feel threatened. Actually, I feel like this community, the people who live here, are looking out for us."

The Courts and Newtown in general are reeling from a week of international headlines that have stamped Newtown as a "ghetto" and a "gangland" following the shooting deaths of the two British men, perpetuating a stigma that has led to simmering anger among those who live and work here.

Those labels belie, they argue, what is happening behind the scenes in the African-American dominated neighborhood, from the work of the women at Children First to that of George Mims, who runs a mentoring program at Booker High School.

"Newtown is painted as a ghetto," Mims said, "but I'm not sure what that means. Does that word, 'ghetto,' mean a community where blacks live? I think there is an element of racism not only in the media coverage of this tragedy, and it is an unthinkable tragedy, but in how the city of Sarasota thinks of us in Newtown."

"If these were two young black men who were killed, would it generate this much coverage? If these were two young black men who were killed, would the mayor pick up the phone and make a call to defend Sarasota?"

Those comments include statements made this week by Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner, who in an interview with the British Broadcasting Company referred to Sarasota and Newtown as a "tale of two cities," a reference to the Charles Dickens novel that depicts the troubling contrast in lifestyles between French peasants and the aristocracy.

Kirschner's taped comments remain transcribed on the BBC web site.

"We do have this tale of two cities," Kirschner told the worldwide network. "We have, I think, one of the greatest cities in the state of Florida in terms of our dedication to culture and arts, and beautiful beaches and everything else. Then the flip side is you have this historic black community that is the complete opposite of that situation."

Kirschner appeared at a press conference in Newtown Friday, where the NAACP protested the way the community has been portrayed. He defended his comments to the BBC.

"I don't think that's really a sensational comment to make," he said. "You can look at the median value of homes here versus Longboat Key, Casey Key and it's pretty evident you have pretty large discrepancies in wealth. I think any fairminded person would probably agree with me."

He added that the city is committed to preventing violent crime and it is unacceptable in any neighborhood.

At the news conference, local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People official Trevor Harvey said the community's representation in the media has ignored social and economic improvements made in Newtown.

"We are asking the media to stop portraying us as scoundrels, the ghetto, animals, notoriously gang-ridden and all the other horrific names our community is being called," he said.

"Instead call us determined. Call us overcomers. And call us people who are willing to turn our past struggles into tomorrow's victory."

Newtown is undergoing a $300 million revitalization with projects such as the widening of U.S. 301, the new Janie's Gardens government-subsidized apartment complex to replace the aging Janie Poe housing project, the Booker High School rebuild and the renovated Robert L. Taylor community center, he said.

"These projects have allowed this community to change the quality of life in Newtown by putting the residents back to work and putting hope back in the hearts of our neighborhoods," he said.

Statistics show that Newtown has its share of social problems. It is Sarasota's poorest neighborhood, and has long been plagued by unemployment, street-corner drug deals and occasional shootings. Police said the killings of the tourists were the first murders in all of Sarasota, including Newtown, this year.

A crackdown by police on the Second Line gang in 2008 removed a large number of gang members and repeat criminals from the streets.

Life there, particularly on weekend mornings, is a bustle of activity typical of any urban neighborhood, with cook-outs, family gatherings and well-attended church services.

Sylvia Browning, 38, has worked at Children First since 1997 and, after living most of her life in Bradenton, was looking to buy a house and found one in Newtown. She works here, goes to church here and wanted to live here too.

"I didn't know I was moving to a 'gangland,'" she said sarcastically. "That's not what this neighborhood is like, though. This was an isolated incident. And now, everyone is painting us all with the same brush."

Louethel Atkins has lived in Newtown for 50 years, her parents even longer. "I know a lot of people and a lot of people know me," she said. "That's just how it is. You walk to church, you say 'hi' to people, you socialize with them. Are there some people who are not on the right track? I think so.

"But should this incident portray what this neighborhood is really about? No."

Progress has been made recently, as Harvey suggested, with redevelopment, upgrades to local parks and the new high school and community center.

But those positive developments do not typically make big news, said Phillip Tavill, director of Children First.

"I don't think I've ever seen an above-the-fold headline that reads: 'Plane Lands Safely,'" said Tavill. "Many of the civic things going on in this community, the people working hard to keep Newtown moving forward, do not make the news."

<p><em>NEWTOWN</em> - Each morning, in the same public housing project where two British tourists were killed last Saturday, teachers load young children into a red stroller and take them on an hourlong walk.</p><p>When residents of The Courts see the stroller coming down the sidewalk, many of them stop teacher Elibel Ramirez to chat. They pat the children on the head, call them by name and often pick up the littlest ones, the babies, for a hug.</p><p>"We cross all of these streets, we walk right through this neighborhood," says Ramirez. "I don't feel threatened. Actually, I feel like this community, the people who live here, are looking out for us."</p><p>The Courts and Newtown in general are reeling from a week of international headlines that have stamped Newtown as a "ghetto" and a "gangland" following the shooting deaths of the two British men, perpetuating a stigma that has led to simmering anger among those who live and work here.</p><p>Those labels belie, they argue, what is happening behind the scenes in the African-American dominated neighborhood, from the work of the women at Children First to that of George Mims, who runs a mentoring program at Booker High School.</p><p>"Newtown is painted as a ghetto," Mims said, "but I'm not sure what that means. Does that word, 'ghetto,' mean a community where blacks live? I think there is an element of racism not only in the media coverage of this tragedy, and it is an unthinkable tragedy, but in how the city of Sarasota thinks of us in Newtown."</p><p>"If these were two young black men who were killed, would it generate this much coverage? If these were two young black men who were killed, would the mayor pick up the phone and make a call to defend Sarasota?"</p><p>Those comments include statements made this week by Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner, who in an interview with the British Broadcasting Company referred to Sarasota and Newtown as a "tale of two cities," a reference to the Charles Dickens novel that depicts the troubling contrast in lifestyles between French peasants and the aristocracy.</p><p>Kirschner's taped comments remain transcribed on the BBC web site.</p><p>"We do have this tale of two cities," Kirschner told the worldwide network. "We have, I think, one of the greatest cities in the state of Florida in terms of our dedication to culture and arts, and beautiful beaches and everything else. Then the flip side is you have this historic black community that is the complete opposite of that situation."</p><p>Kirschner appeared at a press conference in Newtown Friday, where the NAACP protested the way the community has been portrayed. He defended his comments to the BBC.</p><p>"I don't think that's really a sensational comment to make," he said. "You can look at the median value of homes here versus Longboat Key, Casey Key and it's pretty evident you have pretty large discrepancies in wealth. I think any fairminded person would probably agree with me."</p><p>He added that the city is committed to preventing violent crime and it is unacceptable in any neighborhood.</p><p>At the news conference, local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People official Trevor Harvey said the community's representation in the media has ignored social and economic improvements made in Newtown.</p><p>"We are asking the media to stop portraying us as scoundrels, the ghetto, animals, notoriously gang-ridden and all the other horrific names our community is being called," he said.</p><p>"Instead call us determined. Call us overcomers. And call us people who are willing to turn our past struggles into tomorrow's victory."</p><p>Newtown is undergoing a $300 million revitalization with projects such as the widening of U.S. 301, the new Janie's Gardens government-subsidized apartment complex to replace the aging Janie Poe housing project, the Booker High School rebuild and the renovated Robert L. Taylor community center, he said.</p><p>"These projects have allowed this community to change the quality of life in Newtown by putting the residents back to work and putting hope back in the hearts of our neighborhoods," he said.</p><p>Statistics show that Newtown has its share of social problems. It is Sarasota's poorest neighborhood, and has long been plagued by unemployment, street-corner drug deals and occasional shootings. Police said the killings of the tourists were the first murders in all of Sarasota, including Newtown, this year.</p><p>A crackdown by police on the Second Line gang in 2008 removed a large number of gang members and repeat criminals from the streets.</p><p>Life there, particularly on weekend mornings, is a bustle of activity typical of any urban neighborhood, with cook-outs, family gatherings and well-attended church services. </p><p>Sylvia Browning, 38, has worked at Children First since 1997 and, after living most of her life in Bradenton, was looking to buy a house and found one in Newtown. She works here, goes to church here and wanted to live here too.</p><p>"I didn't know I was moving to a 'gangland,'" she said sarcastically. "That's not what this neighborhood is like, though. This was an isolated incident. And now, everyone is painting us all with the same brush."</p><p>Louethel Atkins has lived in Newtown for 50 years, her parents even longer. "I know a lot of people and a lot of people know me," she said. "That's just how it is. You walk to church, you say 'hi' to people, you socialize with them. Are there some people who are not on the right track? I think so.</p><p>"But should this incident portray what this neighborhood is really about? No."</p><p>Progress has been made recently, as Harvey suggested, with redevelopment, upgrades to local parks and the new high school and community center.</p><p>But those positive developments do not typically make big news, said Phillip Tavill, director of Children First.</p><p>"I don't think I've ever seen an above-the-fold headline that reads: 'Plane Lands Safely,'" said Tavill. "Many of the civic things going on in this community, the people working hard to keep Newtown moving forward, do not make the news."</p>